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Maida Flood Action group members, from left, Julia Neal, London Assembly Member Murad Qureshi, Subhash Rao, Sam Harrison and Farid Barez |
Thames Water set to face flood quiz after deluge of complaints
Victory for campaign group as water company is summoned
to City Hall
A CAMPAIGN group launched to take Thames Water to task over flood damage in Maida Vale has scored a victory after council bosses called the company to face questions at City Hall.
Maida Flood Action was formed in July by infuriated residents hit by thousands of pounds of damage and a massive clean-up operation when flash floods devastated their homes.
The group began collecting hundreds of signatures from people who wanted answers from Thames Water about why they had failed to upgrade drainage systems – despite heavy rainfall wreaking similar havoc in the summer of 2007.
The company has so far failed to take responsibility for the floods, putting them down to “freak weather conditions”. But following pressure from the campaign, they met residents at the Maida Vale Area Forum this week to discuss what could be done to prevent further misery.
The company have agreed to face the council’s environment scrutiny committee on December 1.
Julia Neal, one of those spearheading the campaign, said: “They seem to have realised that something needs to be done to stop this happening again. Residents of the surrounding area, some of whom have been flooded as many as five times in seven years, are now having difficulty getting home insurance.”
Maida Flood Action have been collecting evidence on a street-by-street basis by asking residents to fill out questionnaires detailing the damage flooding has caused over the years.
Representatives from Thames Water say they will use the data after it emerged that their own investigations had collected information on just 30 properties.
More than 100 residents and businesses have come forward with details of damage caused by the floods, including housing association Walton and Community Homes which was left with £250,000 worth of damage to 40 properties.
Among the businesses hit were Suliman Carpets in Chippenham Mews, which suffered £6,000 of damage, and Browns Chemist in Shirland Road, which lost £1,500.
Grand Union Pets in Shirland Road was also hit with a repair bill of several thousand pounds.
Farid Barez, who owns Suliman Carpets, said: “We also had to pay for the removal of damaged goods and have received no compensation.”
Subhash Rao, of AM to PM supermarket, also in Chippenham Mews, added: “We’ve been flooded a number of times over the past three years.
“I used to own three other shops in the area – all of them were flooded.”
Campaigners are being backed by councillors, Karen Buck MP and London Assembly member Murad Qureshi.
Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg said: “I’m astonished that it has taken so much pressure from councillors to make Thames Water take notice. People’s lives have been absolutely turned upside down and there is no guarantee it will not happen again next year. People are constantly living on the edge.”
Mr Qureshi added: “Thames Water’s reaction seemed to be that it would be down to Ofwat to tell them how much funding they could have for upgrading drainage systems, but they are a private company which should be in charge of its own investment programme.”
A Thames Water spokeswoman said: “As a result of attending the Maida Vale Area Forum with the Maida Flood Action Group last week, we have arranged a further meeting with the group so that we can discuss the various issues regarding flooding in the area.
“We look forward to meeting with them again.”
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